Rotary engine.



No. 864,019. PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907: G. M. MITSOHOW 6; S. J. WINTEMUTE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION rum) AUG. 24, 19 06. 7

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PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907. G. M. MITSGHOW & S. J. WINTEMUTE.

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ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.24.1906.

No. 864,019. PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907. G. M. MITSGHOW & S. J. WINTBMUTE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.24.1906.

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Inventors;

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UNITED sTA ps PATENT orrron.

CHARLES M. MITSGHOW AND SAMUEL J. WINTEMUTE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1907.

Application filed August 24, 1906. Serial No. 331,371.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, OHARLEs M. MrrscHow, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and SAMUEL J. WINTEMUTE, who has declared his intention tobecome a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in thecounty of Erie and State of New York, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Rotary Engines, of which the following isaspecification.

This engine relates to an improved rotary steam engine having twinconnected cylinders containing revolving pistons which are operated bythe expansion of the steam; and the object of the invention is toproduce a rotary engine which is economical in the use of steam;

I simple and cheap in construction; sure and reliable in operation andcapable of maintaining a high and uniform rate of speed.

To attain these results we have eliminated practically all reciprocatingmotion in the operation of this engine which is designed so as to giveall moving parts a revolving or rotating movement.

The invention also relates to a novel form of rotary valve forcontrolling the admission of steam into the cylinders with respect totime.

The invention also relates to certain details of construction all ofwhich will be fully and clearly hereinafter described and claimed,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l, is a rear elevation of the improved rotary engine the pulleybeing removed from its shaft. Fig. 2, is a front elevation of theimproved rotary engine with the cylinder heads removed to disclose theinterior, the engine being partly in section to show the valvemechanism. Fig. 3, is an enlarged detached fragmentary end view of thepistons showing the relative position of the blades when passing eachother. Fig. 4, is a horizontal section through the improved rotaryengine on line aa Fig. 1. Fig. 5, is a central vertical section throughthe improved rotary engine on line bb, Fig. 2. Fig. 6, is an enlargedcentral horizontal section on line c c, Fig. 2, the valve and valveshaft being shown in full. Fig. 7, is a fragmentary section through thevalve mechanism on line b-b, Fig. 2, showing the valve moved topartially close the inlet ports. Fig. 8, is a de tached inside view ofthe cylinder head with the packing rings removed. Fig. 9, is an enlargedfragmentary longitudinal section through one of the pistons and blades,showing the springs for maintaining the packing bar in contact with thecylinder walls. Fig. 10, is an enlarged detached side view of thegovernor, showing a section through the valve shaft. Fig. 11, is adetached view of the square sleeve and wedge disk of the governor.

In referring to the drawings for the details of construction, likenumerals designate like parts.

The frame of the engine, including the valve chest and one head or coverof the cylinders and valve chest,

, walls.

is preferably cast in one integral piece of metal, and in the form shownin Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, where 1, designates the engine frame; 2, therear head or cover of the cylinders; 3, the valve chest locatedcentrally and ver tically above the cylinders, and 4, the rear head orcover of the valve chest. The two cylinders 5 and 6, in which thepistons operate, are located side by side and lie in a horizontal plane,being placed so close together that they connect as shown in Fig. 2. Thevalve chamber 7, is located vertically and centrally above the twocylinders; is cylindrical in form, and slightly longer than thecylinders see Fig. 5. The open ends of the cylinders 5 and 6, and of thevalve chamber 7, are closed by cylinder heads or covers 8, 9, and 10,which respectively are of substantially the same diameter as thecylinders 5 and 6, and valve chamber 7, and fit snugly therein. Thesecovers are provided with a surrounding lateral flange 11, formedintegral therewith, said flange having a series of openings throughwhich stud-bolts 12, pass to securely fasten the covers to the engineframe, see Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 8.

Two horizontally extending shafts 13 and 14, pass longitudinally throughthe center of the cylinders 5 and 6, being supported by bearings 15,formed in the cylinder heads 2, 8 and 9. Two pistons 16 and 17, aremounted on the shafts l3 and 14, within the cylinders 5 and 6, saidpistons being substantially cylindrical in form and preferably formed ofsolid metal, see Fig. 4. These pistons are of substantially the samelength as the cylinders 5 and 6, so that they fit snugly against thecylinder heads 2, 8 and 9, but are of smaller diameter than thecylinders, being of sufficient diameter so as to contact at a pointmidway between the two shafts l3 and 14, see Figs. 2 and 4. The spacewhich is left between the periphery of the pistons and the walls of thecylinders forms the steam space into which the steam is admitted andpermitted to expand to rotate the pistons. Each of the pistons 16 and17, has two oppositely extending radial blades 18 and 19, which extendto the full length of the pistons and project beyond their peripheriessufl iciently so as to nearly touch the cylinder These piston blades aremortised into the pistons and additionally secured by screws 20, seeFig. 9. The projecting portion of each blade has alongitudinallyextending T-slot formed therein throughout its entire length and apacking bar 21, of T-shape in cross section and substantially the samelength as the blade, is seated in this T-slot as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and9. The T-slot in each blade is formed so as to permit a slight movementto the packing bar 21, the outer edge of which contacts with thecylinder walls as shown in Fig. 2, said bar being maintained in steamtight contact with said walls by means of coiled springs 22, seated inpockets in the inner portion of the blade, see Fig. 9.

By referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 9, it will be seen that the outer orcontacting edges of the packing bars 21 are slightly beveled. The objectof this is to prevent any hammering when the bars come in contact withthe cylinder walls at the point where the walls of the two cylindersmeet, this edge being also slightly rounded to assist in forcing the bar21 back against the tension of the springs 22.

Two longitudinal grooves 23 and 24 are formed in the periphery of eachpiston, one of the grooves being adjacent to and extending parallel witheach of the blades 18 and 19. These grooves are shaped substantially asshown in Figs. 2 and 3, and permit the blades 18 and 19, to pass eachother as the pistons revolve, the blade 18 on the piston 16, fittinginto the groove 23, in the piston 17 and the blade 18, on the piston 17,fitting into the groove 23, in the piston 16, see Fig. 3, where theseblades are shown in the act of passing'each other.

In order to prevent any leakage of steam from the cylinders through thebearings of the shafts 13 and 14, metal packing rings 25, are seated inannular grooves 26, formed in the cylinder heads 2, 8 and 9, andmaintained in contact with the ends of the pistons by coiled springs 27,seated in pockets in the cylinder heads. These packing rings 25, serveto prevent the steam from reaching the shafts, should there be anyclearance between the pistons and cylinder heads due to wear, as thisclearance would be obstructed by the packing rings which areautomatically maintained in steam tight contact with the pistons by thesprings 27.

Steam is admitted to the cylinders 5 and 6, at intervals by a valvecontained within a valve chamber 7, which is located vertically andcentrally above the cylinders. This valve, which we term a rotary valve,consists of a hollow cylindrical shell 28, located within the valvechamber 7 and mounted on a horizontal valve shaft 29, which is journaledin bearings in the heads 4 and 10, of the valve chest, see Figs. 2, 5 6and 7. The cylindrical shell 28, fits snugly within the valve chamber 7,and has two sets of slots 30, and 30, formed therein, which are locatedoppositely each other. In the present embodiment of this improved rotaryengine as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, each of these setsof slots 30, and 30, comprises six individual parallel slots equallyspaced, each one of which is of a length equal to one fourth of thecircumference of the hollow cylindrical shell 28. However we do notlimit ourselves to this precise construction, it being readily seen thatthe number of slots in each set, and the length and width of eachindividual slot will be governed by the quantity of steam it is desiredto admit to the cylinders, which may vary in different cases.

Steam is admitted to the cylinders 5 and 6, from the valve chamber 7,through a series of parallel vertically extending inlet ports 31, whichconnect the cylinder 5, with the valve chamber 7, see Figs. 2 and 5.These inlets ports are equal in number to the number of slots in eachset in the valve 28, and are spaced substantially the same as the slots30 and 30.

The valve chest 3, has a central vertical opening 32, formed therein anda passage 33, connects said opening 32 with each end of the valvechamber 7, substantially as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 7. A pipe 34,connects the opening 32, with a source of steam supply in any well knownway. Exhaust ports 35 and 36, lead from the cylinders 5 and 6, to ahorizontally extending common exhaust passage 37, which is locatedcentrally and vertically below the cylinders 5 and 6. This exhaust passage leads through the flange 11, of the cylinder heads and connectswith an exhaust pipe 38, see Fig. 5. The shafts 13 and 14, projectrearwardly beyond the engine frame and are provided with intermeshinggear wheels 39, and 40, of equal diameter so that the pistons revolve inopposite directions at the same speed, and also maintain the samerelative position with respect to each other.

As heretofore mentioned, the valve chamber 7, is slightly longer thanthe cylinders 5 and 6, while the valve 28, is of substantially the samelength as said cylinders, thereby providinga narrow space or clearanceat each end of the valve chamber 7. The passage 33, connects with theseclearance spaces of the valve chamber 7, which are thereby kept filledwith steam from whence it reaches the inside of the hollow valve 28,through openings 41, in the ends of said valve, see Fig. 2. This steamfilled space at each end of the valve 28, also serves to balance saidvalve by providing an equal pressure at each end thereof, thereby makingit easier of operation by eliminating friction.

Metal packing rings 42, and 43, are seated in annular grooves 44 and 45,in the covers or heads of 4 and 10, of the valve chamber 7, and encirclethe valve shaft 29. These rings are maintained in steam tight contactwith the ends of the valve 28, by coiled springs 46 and 47, which areseated in pockets formed in the heads 4 and 10. By referring to Fig. 6,it will be'seen that the springs 46, are considerably heavier andstronger than the springs 47, and are capable of being tensioned by setscrews 48, which screw into the outer ends of the pockets. The purposeof this will be described further on.

The packing rings 25, 42 and 43, are each provided with two dowel pins49, which fit into openings and while permitting the rings a slidingmovement, prevent their rotation, see Figs. 5 and 7.

The valve shaft 29, projects rearwardly beyond the engine frame and hasa gear wheel 50, mounted upon its rear end, which meshes with a gearwheel 5]., mounted upon the rear end of the shaft 13, see Figs. 1 and 5.These two gear wheels are of exactly the same diameter so that the valve28 revolves at the same speed as the pistons 16 and 17.

A governor operated by centrifugal force is mounted upon the projectingend of the valve shaft 29, adjacent to the rear head 4, said governorbeing constructed substantially as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10 and11.

While the governor forms no part of the present invention it isadvisable to prevent racing of the engine and therefore a briefdescription of the same will be given. A square surfaced sleeve 52having a disk 53, at one end is keyed on the valve shaft 29, adjacent tothe rear head 4, and a similar disk 54 is loosely mount ed upon theother end of the sleeve 52, and bears against the head 4, of the valvechamber. A bar 55 has a square opening through which the sleeve 52loosely passes. Two rectangular blocks 56 and 57 are supported upon thesquare sleeve 52 and are placed respectively between the bar 55 and eachof the disks 53 and 54, see Fig. 6. A rectangular opening 58 is formedin each of the blocks 56 and 57, through which the sleeve 52 passes. Thecontacting edges of the disk 53 and block 56 and the disk 54 and block57 are wedge shaped,

see Fig. 6, so that any lateral movement of the blocks 56 and 57 willtend to spread the disks 53 and 54.

' The blocks 56 and 57 each have a counter-weight 59. Two coiledextension springs 60, have their inner ends secured to the inner ends ofthe blocks 56, and 57 and their outer ends fastened by bolts 61, to theadjacent ends of the bar 55, see Fig. 6. Nuts 62, screwed upon the outerends of the bolt 61, permit the tensioning of the spring 60. The disk54, the bar 55, and both the blocks 56 and 57 have a longitudinalsliding movement upon the square sleeve 52.

It will be readily seen that in order to permit the blades 18 and 19, topass each other as shown in Fig. 3, instead of meeting, the position ofthe blades on the piston 16, must differ from that of the blades on thepiston 17. In Fig. 2, where the blades are shown in proper position toadmit steam into the cylinders, it will be noted that the blades on thepiston 16, are at a greater angle with respect to a horizontal linedrawn through the centers of shafts 13 and 14, than are the blades onthe piston 17. In the same figure it will be noted that the inlet ports31, lead from one side of the vertical center of the valve chamber 7,directly into the cylinder 5, instead of connecting with both thecylinders at a central point. The reason for this is to haveapproximately the same volume of steam on each side between the bladesand the center of the inlet ports 31, and also to avoid over amount ofclearance.

In case more room for expansion is needed one blade can be used on eachpiston instead of two or more. In cases where great speed is desired, itmay be advisable to provide each piston with three or four bladesinstead of two, in which event the number of sets of slots in the valve28, would be increased accordingly and probably also the size of theexhaust ports, the number of sets always equaling the number of bladesin each piston. We therefore do not limit ourselves to the preciseconstruction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but reserve theright to make such changes in the detail construction or proportion ofthe various parts as shall be necessary to adapt this improved rotaryengine to different kinds of service.

The operation of this improved rotary engine is as follows, The parts ofthe engine being in the position shown in Fig. 2, steam is admitted intothe valve chamber 7, through the pipe 34, opening 32, and passage 33.From the valve chamber 7, it flows through the opening 41, into thehollow cylindrical valve 28, thence through the slots 30, and inletports 31, into the cylinder 5, and then into the cylinder 6. When thesteam reaches the cylinders it exerts a pressure against the blades 18,causing them to move and thereby rotate the pistons. The point ofcontact of the pistons 16, and 1.7 being steam tight, acts as a head toprevent the flow of steam expanding in that direction so thatpractically all the force of the steam pressure and expansion is exertedagainst the blades, 18. As the pistons revolve in the direction of thearrows Fig. 2, the blades 19, assume the position now occupied by blades18, and the same operation repeated, the steam following the trail shownby the arrows and exhausting through the ports and 36, into the passage37. Should the engine attain too great a speed the counter weights 59,would move away from the center of the valve shaft 29, owing to thecentrifugal force exerted upon them, and cause the wedge shapedrectangular blocks 56 and 57, to spread th disks 53 and 54. As the disk54, is held against movement by the head 4, the disk 53, moves outwardlyand being formed integral with the square sleeve 52, which is keyed tothe shaft 29, carries said shaft with it. This slides the valve 28,rearwardly in the valve chamber 7, and reduces the steam supply bycutting off the inlet ports 31, as shown in Fig. 7. As the engine slowsdown, the springs 60, return the blocks 56 and 57 to their normalposition, while the springs 46, being heavier than the springs 47, asheretofore described, return the valve 28, to its central position.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a rotary engine, two connected cylinders,oppo sitely rotatable pistons in said cylinders, a valve chest having avalve chamber and an inlet port leading to the cylinders and -a rotaryvalve consisting of a hollow cylin drical shell located in the valvechamber and having two oppositelylocated sets of slots.

2. In a rotary engine, two connected cylinders located side by side inthe same horizontal plane, oppositely rotatable pistons in saidcylinders, a valve chest centrally over the cylinders and provided witha valve chamber and a series of inlet ports leading from the valvechamber to one of the cylinders and a rotary steam controlling valveconsisting of a hollow cylindrical shell located in the valve chamberand having two oppositely located sets of slots; each set being adaptedat one period of rotation of the shell to register with the inlet ports.

3. In a rotary engine, two connected cylinders. oppositely rotatablepistons in said cylinders, a valve chest having a valve chamber and aseries of inlet ports extending from the valve chamber to one of thecylinders and a rotary valve consisting of a hollow cylindrical shelllocated in the valve chamber and having two oppositely located sets ofslots and each set of slots being equal in number to the series of inletports, an inlet port leading to the cylinders and a rotary valveconsisting of a hollow cylindrical shell located in the valve chamberand having two oppositely located sets of slots.

4. In a rotary engine, two connected cylinders arranged side by side inthe same horizontal plane, a valve chest centrally over the cylindershaving a valve chamber and a series of inlet ports loading from thevalve chamber to one of the cylinders, oppositely rotatable pistons insaid cylinders, a rotary inlet valve consisting of a hollow cylin dricalshell located in the valve chamber and having two oppositely locatedsets of slots each adapted to register with the inlet ports at oneperiod in the rotation of the inlet valve and gearing connecting thepistons and rotary valve.

(IIARLES M. MITSCITOV. SAMUEL .T. \VINTEMUTE.

Witnesses (ll-1o. A. Nicnniinnn, L. M. Srnos'rnn.

